Americans impacted by 9/11 encouraged to apply for benefits as 20th anniversary approaches

Most civilian survivors of 9/11 have yet to register with the federal Victims Compensation Fund  — and the clock runs out for some of them July 29, advocates warn.

The deadline affects survivors who were certified by the related World Trade Center Health Program before July 29, 2019, as having a Ground Zero-related illness. It also affects the families of those certified before that date who have died. Both groups now have till this July 29 to enroll in the Sept. 11 Victims Compensation Fund for potential payouts.